COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - DePaul sophomore guard Brittany Hrynko is among the 31 athletes who have accepted an invitation to participate in the 2013 USA Basketball Women's World University Games Team trials, May 16-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo. The USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee issued the invitations.

"We're fortunate that the World University Games age group allows for the development of our college-aged players and gives them an opportunity outside of the Olympics to gain international experience at the highest level," said committee chair Jim Foster, who has been a member of nine different USA Basketball coaching staffs. "We feel that this is a good mix of players to build a team that will represent USA Basketball well in Russia,"

"The trials roster boasts some incredible talent," said Sherri Coale, USA and University of Oklahoma head coach. "The challenge for the committee will be selecting the players who fit together best."

"First and foremost, the players must understand what an honor it is to be invited to participate in the trials. With that honor comes the expectation that they will compete and work in a manner commiserate with the legacy of USA basketball. In a relatively short amount of time we hope to ascertain not only individual strengths but also collective strengths so that we might put together a team capable of winning in a variety of ways while also representing our country in the best possible manner."

"The trials themselves will be designed to reveals skill sets, decision making ability, basketball acumen and, just as importantly, a willingness to learn and accept roles."

"The invitation for Britt Hrynko to compete for a roster spot on The USA World University Team is a statement that USA Basketball believes she is one of 'The Best' College players in the Country," DePaul head women's basketball coach Doug Bruno said of Hrynko's invitation. "I know Britt will represent exceptionally well in her fight to make The 2013 USA World University Team."

Hyrnko, a first-team All-BIG EAST Conference selection, led DePaul in points (486), assists (160), 3-pointers (82) and steals (67) last season. The 5-8 guard has started the Blue Demons' last 65 games and is averaging 12.7 points per outing. Hrynko, a Philadelphia native, is on track to become DePaul's 29th 1,000-point scorer. Hrynko, who was named the BIG EAST's Co-Most Improved Player, was honored with DePaul's defensive award at the team's end of the year banquet. The sophomore was routinely assigned to guard the opposing team's best player, while her 67 steals were the most by a Blue Demon since the 2005-06 season.

Hrynko is the second Blue Demon to earn and invitation to the World University Games Team Trials. Keisha Hampton (2008-12) earned a spot on the team and a gold medal at the 2011 World University Games.

The 2013 World University Games (WUGs) women's basketball competition will be held July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia. Organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and held every other year, the WUGs is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24 (born 01/01/89 through 12/31/95). The USA Basketball women's team will be comprised of U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in college and have remaining eligibility.

Assistant coaches for the team will be Brian Giorgis (Marist College) and Coquese Washington (Penn State University). Additionally, Matt Corkery (American University), Bobbie Kelsey (University of Wisconsin) and Matilda Mossman (University of Tulsa) will serve as court coaches during the trials.

The WUGs trials begin on May 16 with the first session at 6:30-8:15 p.m., followed by trials sessions on May 17 and 18 at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The 12-member roster is expected to be announced the morning of May 19, and all athletes will depart for home. The team will regroup for training June 25-July 1 at the USOTC prior to traveling to Russia.

The USA has been placed in Group B for the 2013 WUGs and will open at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 8 against Belarus, followed by Czech Republic at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 9 and its final preliminary-round opponent, Brazil, at 4:30 a.m. (EDT) on July 10. Following the preliminary round, the first and second placed teams in each of the four pools will advance to the medal quarterfinals to compete for 1st-8th places, while the remaining teams will compete for 9th-24th places. The quarterfinals will be played on July 12, with the semifinals on July 13 and the gold medal game on July 15.

World University GamesUSA Basketball women's teams have participated in 16 prior World University Games and have collected a record eight gold medals, six silvers and one bronze medal.

Since 1973, the first year the USA women competed in the WUGs, the United States has compiled a 95-15 record. In 2011 the USA, led by 2012 NCAA National Player of the Year nominees Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike and Baylor's Simms, posted a 6-0 slate en route to the gold medal.

USA BasketballBased in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

During the 2009-12 quadrennium, 1,273 men and women players and 235 coaches participated in USA Basketball, including the USA Basketball 3x3 FIBA championships, USA Basketball trials and USA teams.

Between 2009-12, USA Basketball men's and women's teams compiled an impressive 264-35 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the Pan American Games, the World University Games, the Nike Hoop Summit and in exhibition games. USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics; men's and women's FIBA World Championships; women's FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships. USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.

For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at usabasketball.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball and www.youtube.com/therealusabasketball.